(a) Use of Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities accessory to residential use and developed in any residential district, in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles, three-quarter ton trucks or less and one-ton passenger vans or less, owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which such facilities are accessory or by guests of said occupants. Under no circumstances shall required parking facilities accessory to residential structures be used for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants, visitors or customers of business or manufacturing establishments.
(b) Joint Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses, or for mixed uses, may be provided collectively in any zoning district in which separate parking facilities for each constituent use would be permitted, provided that the total number of spaces so located together shall no be less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use and provided that the owners of the properties utilizing the joint parking facilities file a copy of the joint parking agreement with the Community Development Department. If any of the properties are located in a platted subdivision, a copy of the joint parking agreement shall be recorded with the plat in the office of the Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder.
(c) Computation. When determination of the number of off-street parking spaces is required by this Zoning Code results in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction of one-half or less may be disregarded while a fraction in excess of one-half shall be counted as one parking space.
(d) Size. A required off-street parking space shall be at least nine feet in width and at least nineteen feet in length, exclusive of access drives or aisles, ramps, columns or office or work areas. Such space shall have a vertical clearance of at least seven feet. The minimum dimensions for parking stalls shall be in compliance with this section and Table D-1 (Off-Street Parking Stall Dimensions).
TABLE D-1
OFF-STREET PARKING STALL DIMENSIONS
ANGLE | STALL WIDTH | STALL LENGTH | STALL DEPTH | CLEARANCE HEIGHT |
45 degrees | 9' | 19' | 20' | 7' |
60 degrees | 9' | 19' | 21' | 7' |
90 degrees | 9' | 19' | 19' | 7' |
(e) Access. Each required off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle or driveway of such width and design as to provide safe and efficient means of vehicular access to such parking space. All off-street parking facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movements. No driveway across public property, nor any curb cut, shall exceed a width of thirty feet. The minimum dimensions for parking aisles shall be in compliance with this section and Table E-1 (Off-Street Aisle Parking Dimensions).
TABLE E-1
OFF-STREET AISLE PARKING DIMENSIONS
Angle | One Way Aisle | Two Way Aisle |
45 degrees | 15' | 24' |
60 degrees | 18' | 24' |
90 degrees | 24' | 24' |
(f) Facilities in Yards. Off-street parking spaces may be located in any yard except required front yards.
(g) Parking or Storage in Parkways. No person, firm or corporation shall park, deposit, leave or store any motor vehicle, tangible personal property or vehicle of any type or description at any time between the sidewalk line and curb line at any place within the City.
(h) Design and Maintenance.
(1) Open and enclosed parking spaces. Accessory parking spaces located on the same lot occupied by the use served may be open to the sky, covered by a carport or solar canopy, or enclosed in a building. Accessory parking spaces located in a residence district elsewhere than on the same lot occupied by the use served shall be open to the sky, except when otherwise allowed as a special use.
(2) Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas and driveways shall be improved with a compacted macadam base, not less than seven (7) inches thick, surfaced with not less than three (3) inches of asphaltic concrete or some comparable all-weather dustless material. Sand and gravel are not considered all-weather dustless materials.
(3) Bumper stops, wheel stops and curbing. Bumper stops, wheel stops or curbing shall be provided to prevent vehicles from damaging or encroaching upon any sidewalk, landscaped area or parking lot island, fence, wall or building.
(4) Striping. Parking spaces shall be delineated with paint or other permanent materials, which shall be maintained in clearly visible condition.
(5) Screening and landscaping. All open automobile parking areas containing more than four parking spaces shall be effectively screened on each side adjoining or fronting on any property situated in a residence district, or any institutional premises, by a wall, fence or densely planted compact hedge not less than five feet nor more than seven feet in height. Such required screening shall conform to the front and side yard setback requirements of the district in which the parking is located and with Chapter 1272 (Landscaping and Screening) of these Codified Ordinances.
(6) Lighting. Lighting of off-street parking areas is required. Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be directed away from residential properties in such a way as not to create a nuisance. A lighting plan shall be required any time exterior lighting is proposed or modified and shall be submitted along with the site plan information to the City Engineer for approval. The lighting plan shall include a site plan indicating: the location, height, type, design, orientation, anchorage, and wattage of all proposed light fixtures; a photometric plan prepared by a lighting professional showing spot illumination levels at regularly spaced intervals on the lot and at all lot lines and average proposed illumination levels on the site; a summary table containing average foot-candles, minimum foot-candles, maximum foot-candles, uniformity ratio (average/minimum), and catalog cuts of the proposed fixtures.
(7) Signs. Accessory signs are permitted on parking areas.
(8) Accessibility. Off-street parking facilities shall be constructed and maintained in full compliance with the Illinois Accessibility Code, April 24, 1997 edition, as from time to time thereafter modified and amended, as formulated and published by authorization of the State of Illinois Capital Development Board.
(9) Maintenance. Off-street parking facilities shall be maintained in a safe operating condition so as not to create a hazard or nuisance. All materials used in the design of paving, lighting fixtures, retaining walls, fences, curbs and benches, and other features must be continuously maintained and kept free of debris or hazards, including but not limited to potholes, broken curbing and other irregularities. Single-family, owner-occupied residential properties shall not be subject to the requirements of this paragraph.
(10) Repair and service. No motor vehicle repair work of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with accessory off-street parking facilities provided in a residence district.
The sale of gasoline and motor oil in conjunction with accessory off-street parking facilities is not permitted in any residence district.
(i) Storm Water Management. All off-street parking facilities shall comply with Chapter 1050 (Storm Sewers) of these Codified Ordinances.
(j) Floor Area Exemptions. When two or more uses are located on the same zoning lot, only one exemption for floor area, as set forth in Section 1262.05, shall be taken.
(1977 Code § 73-1003; Ord. 78-75. Passed 9-18-78; Ord. 2009-39. Passed 6-15-09; Ord. 2013-48. Passed 10-7-13; Ord. 2018-40. Passed 9-17-18.)